Maricopa Community Colleges • Office of the Chancellor • Community Advisory Committees • Vol. 5 • March 2013

Chancellor Update: Corporate College

As you may have heard, we are beginning some exciting initiatives this year. One of them is our corporate college – a new entity that will provide customized technical training to local employers. I have appointed current GateWay Community College President Dr. Eugene Giovannini to lead this effort. While our colleges currently offer a wide range of corporate training packages, many of them are pre-determined based on the most common requested areas. The corporate college will allow us to quickly develop and implement training solutions for new and existing Arizona businesses based on specifically identified needs.

It will also provide consultative services to businesses, and continuing education to professionals, and will oversee district entrepreneurial activities and initiatives such as the business incubator on the GateWay campus. In addition to working with employers that are moving into the Valley, it will offer professional and continuing education programs to established corporations and associations. The goal is to help narrow the skills gap – the difference between needed and available highly skilled employees.

I expect to find a successor for Dr. Giovannini by July 1, 2013, at which time the corporate college will officially begin offering its services and he will assume full-time duties there. Until then, he will continue to oversee GateWay while establishing the corporate college. For more information on GateWay’s presidential search, visit http://www.gatewaycc.edu/presidentsearch.

I will continue to provide updates on our new programs and initiatives in future newsletters.

Chancellor Update 1All Arizona Academics 1Marketing Campaign 2STEM Celebration 2

Community Connection provides news and information about the Maricopa Community Colleges and the Chancellor’s Community Advisory Committees to the community. Community Connection is published and distributed quarterly.

Read CommunityConnection online: http://www.maricopa.edu/chancellor/cac.php

Professor of the Year 3SSE Update 4News Briefs 4

Dr. Rufus Glasper

Twenty-Five Maricopa Community College Students Named All-Arizona Academics

At its 18th Annual All Arizona Academic Awards Luncheon, the Phi Theta Kappa organization and its partnering sponsors honored more than 75 academic all-stars from Arizona including 25 from the Maricopa Community Colleges. Partner organizations include: the American Association of Community Colleges, Arizona Community Colleges, the Arizona Board of Regents and USA Today. The awards ceremony was held on February 20 at the Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa.

To be eligible for the award, students were required to:• MaintainaminimumGPAof3.5• Beingoodacademicstanding,• Beworkingtowardanassociate’sdegree,• Demonstrateleadership,and• Interactwiththeircommunityasacollege ambassador.

Students selected as Academic All-Stars in their state are also eligible to be chosen as a national scholar, which includes a feature in the USA Today each spring and eligibility for additional scholarships. For more information about the awards, visit http://www.ptk.org/become-a-member/scholarships/academic-teams.

CAC Meeting June 27, 3-5 pmRio Conference Center

CAC Meeting September 26, 3-5 pmRio Conference Center

CAC meeting December 19, 3-5 pmRio Conference Center

CAC Meeting Calendar 2013

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa Paradise Valley Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain Maricopa Skill Center | NorthWest Skill Center | SouthWest Skill Center

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Maricopa Community Colleges participating in statewide celebration of STEM education

As part of Arizona’s Annual Sci-Tech Festival, the Maricopa Community Colleges are spearheading “How it’s Made AZ,” a unique program that introduces the community to local employers who are critical to the success of Arizona’s economy, and to keeping the workforce strong. It’s also an opportunity for you – our community – to join local students, parents, educators, media and others to get an inside look at what the broad and diverse range of parts and products manufactured right here in Arizona. We expect to schedule tour dates for April 2013. Please contact Robin McNulty at 480-731-8208 or via email info@azhightech.com.

Additionally, the Maricopa Community Colleges hosted NASA’s Destination Station, a series of events during which astronauts shared their experiences from aboard the International Space Station (ISS), located in Earth’s lower orbit. The largest space station ever constructed, the ISS is a research laboratory for studying human health, physical sciences, and earth and space science. NASA’s Destination Station was one of more than 50 Maricopa Community Colleges events being held during this year’s SciTech Festival – Arizona’s largest celebration of science and technology. In total, more than 350 organizations participated.

For the full list of Maricopa Community Colleges’ events, visit facebook.com/maricopa.edu.

Follow Maricopa Community Colleges on Social MediaThe Maricopa Community Colleges have more than 21,000 Facebook fans and more than 2,200 Twitter followers. For all of the latest news, events and celebrations, visit celebrate.maricopa.edu, facebook.com/maricopa.edu, twitter.com/mcccd, and youtube.com/user/themcccdEDU.

New Campaign Focuses on Current and Former Student Success

As part of the Maricopa Community Colleges 50th anniversary celebration, the new advertising campaign highlights the success of current and past students, and the breadth of the colleges’ reach in the community. See the campaign online at http://celebrate.maricopa.edu/meetingsuccess

The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa | Paradise Valley Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain | Skill Centers

You make a difference in your Community. We make a difference in you.

maricopa.edu @mcccd

Where did the name Fu-Fu come from? Fu-Fu is the name of an African dish made by boiling starchy vegetables like cassava, yams, or plantains and then pounding them into a dough-like consistency. I’m from Nigeria but have lived in the U.S. since1996.

Favorite thing about your career? I love to reach out to people and cook them something fresh. They are so happy; I just love the smiles on their faces.

What do you do when you’re not working? I love volunteering, to talk with children about the advantages of going to college.

How would your friends describe you? Hard working.

Who is your mentor? One of my chef teachers at Phoenix College. I like his passion and how hard he works.

What are you most proud of? I am the first generation in my family to go to college. I was able to graduate with three associate’s degrees. I am proud that I could set an example for my siblings.

Meet Esther MbaikambeyOwner and OperatorFu-Fu Cuisine, Phoenixand a graduate of a Maricopa Community College

The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

celebrate.maricopa.eduThe Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa | Paradise Valley

Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain | Skill Centers

You make a difference in your Community. We make a difference in you.

maricopa.edu @mcccd

Which Maricopa Community colleges did you attend?

I attended Mesa and South Mountain, transferred to ASU to

complete my bachelor’s degree then attended Thunderbird School

of Global Management for my MBA.Most valued experience? Having the opportunity to do business

in more than 30 countries before the age of 30 was incredible,

especially considering the only international travel that my family

had done was when my father immigrated to this country.What is your strongest personal characteristic? Optimism.

Favorite saying? “Prioritize the priorities.” Most influential person? My mother, because of her dedication

and encouragement to our family.Of what are you most proud in your career? Graduating from

college at the same time as my mother. We were the first in our

family to finish.

What is your favorite thing about your career?

Helping small businesses succeed. It’s gratifying.

Meet Gonzalo de la MelenaCEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

and alumni of a Maricopa Community College

The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

www.maricopa.edu

The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa | Paradise Valley

Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain | Skill Centers

You make a difference in your Community. We make a difference in you.

maricopa.edu @mcccd

Who first introduced you to the Maricopa Community

Colleges? My father was a counselor at Mesa Community

College in the 1970s.

What inspired you to succeed? I joined the Honor Society

and was selected for the All Academic Team, which helped

establish my scholarship. Also, my Native American math tutor.

During one of our sessions, the light bulb came on, and I thought,

“I can do this.”

What’s one of the biggest challenges you were able to

overcome as a student? I had been out of school for 20 years

and wasn’t ready for the university. The smaller class sizes at Mesa

Community College eased me into it.

How would people describe you? Diplomatic

How would friends describe you? Honest

Favorite thing about your work? Being able to give back to the

greater good. I’m still involved with tribal and non-tribal entities.

Meet Jacob Moore

Partner, Generation Seven Strategic Partners

President of Arizona Board of Education

Special Assistant on Congressional and Legislative committees for

the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

and graduate of a Maricopa Community College

The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions

celebrate.maricopa.edu

Chandler-Gilbert I Estrella Mountain I GateWay I Glendale I Mesa I Paradise Valley I PhoenixRio Salado I Scottsdale I South Mountain | Maricopa Skill Center I SouthWest Skill Center

maricopa.edu @mcccd

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The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) have named Paradise Valley Community College professor Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley a 2012 Professor of the Year. She is one of four honorees chosen from more than 300 distinguished professors across degrees and disciplines nationwide. Dr. Roma-Deeley has taught creative writing at the graduate and undergraduate levels for more than 25 years.

“Lois has really expanded our artistic community at PVCC through collaboration with colleagues and by skillfully weaving classroom learning with out-of-class opportunities,” said PVCC President Paul Dale. “Because

she is an accomplished poet, she not only serves as a scholarly critic for our up and coming writers but, more importantly, she serves as a mentor and source of

inspiration. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our faculty team.”

Dr. Roma-Deeley’s High Notes – her most recent poetry collection – was a 2011 Paterson Poetry Prize Finalist. Her works have also earned the Samuel T. Coleridge Literary prize and awards for the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Competition and the Emily Dickenson Poetry competition.

“Every day I am witness to the countless efforts of students who refuse to give up,” said Dr. Roma Deeley. “I see, in very real and concrete ways, those who believe-even if they don’t yet fully understand-the power of the educational experience to transform their lives. All we ask is that the students come to us. And work hard. And dream big.”

The new my.maricopa.edu site is up and running, serving as many as forty thousand students every day. Since its launch on December 17, 2012, the site has served 4 million pages and handled some 700,000 unique visitors, all while loading pages 24% faster than the old website. Here are some other important updates.

•Tuitionduedatesandenrollmentcancellationarenowstandardized at 35 days from class start for most colleges. Also, students are no longer being withdrawn from their classes for non-payment after the 100% refund period for the class. After the first week of classes, this new change kept more than 6,600 students enrolled in classes when previously they would have been dropped.

PVCC creative writing professor named national Professor of the Year

• ThefirstphaseofthenewMaricopaFinancialAidAnswerCenter launched on February 16, 2013. The call center will handle all simple/FAQ inquires; it will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service is on schedule to roll out to all ten Maricopa Community Colleges and two Skill Centers in summer 2013.

• Withmorethan80,000studentsselectedeachyearforFederal financial aid verification, the college financial aid offices serve a critical role as stewards of this process. A Federal financial aid verification provider has been selected and will begin with the 2013-14 aid year. For students, this means multiple electronic notifications explaining the verification process and the ability to submit documents via a single, centralized web-based platform (24 x 7), by mail or by fax.

An update on the Seamless Student Experience (SSE) Initiative

Dr. Rufus Glasper, Dr. Roma-Deeley, PVCC President Paul Dale

Seamless Student Experience

Seamless Student Experience

Seamless Student Experience

A sincere thank you to all who participated in our March 28th meeting and celebration. This is the first time our districtcommunity Advisory Committees met with members of each of the President’s Advisory Councils. In addition to providingimportant district updates and introducing our Governing Board members, this was a great networking opportunity.

Committee Objectives

•Providecommunity-inspiredcounselandadvicetotheChancellor;

•WorkwiththeCollegestostrengthentheirrelationshipswith the community;

•ServeasaconduitofinformationbetweentheCollegesand the community;

•HelptheCollegesidentifycommunityissuesandproactively address concerns; and

•WorkonprojectsthatadvancetheChancellor’sobjectives.

Populations represented by the CACs: African-American, Asian Pacific Islander, GLBT, Latino, Native-American, and Voice (Disabled)

Chancellor’s Community Advisory Committees (CAC)

News Briefs

Mesa Program featured on NPR story about Innovation in Education

As an installment in its a five-part series, KJZZ reporter Nick Blumberg talked to Mike Callaway, Writing Program Administrator about Mesa’s Accelerated Learning Program. According to Mr. Callaway, statistics from the program’s first year are promising: three out of four students who took the developmental course at the same time as English 101 progressed to the next class. The story can be found online at www.kjzz.org.

Scottsdale Faculty Member Honored as Diversity Champion

Darrell Copp, chair of the Department of Communication and Performance Arts at Scottsdale Community College, was named a 2013 Diversity Champion by the nonprofit group Community Celebrating Diversity. He was honored at Scottsdale’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner Celebration on January 15, 2013.

Paradise Valley Honors hosts Inaugural Palamino Academic Bowl

Eight teams of 4th to 6th graders who have been tutored since October by Paradise Valley Community College honors students faced off in the first-ever Academic Bowl. The PVCC volunteer student-tutors created Jeopardy-style questions about math, science, social studies, geography and reading. The project is the brainchild of PVCC student Aaron Pressley, president of the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa national student academic honor society. Pressley also created and leads the Palomino Teacher Assistant Program that engages PVCC students as classroom volunteers, and he is one of the college’s two representatives on the All-Arizona Academic Team.

Glendale among Higher Education’s Most Innovative Climate Leaders

In January, GCC was selected as a finalist for the second year in a row in the Second Nature 2013 Climate Leadership Awards, an annual competition among US colleges and universities that are signatories of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The awards program is sponsored by Second Nature, a national nonprofit that seeks to create a sustainable society by transforming higher education, and PlanetForward, a media company that publishes news, opinion, and insight about energy, climate, and sustainability.

District Ideas Well-Received at Legislature, Chancellor Says

The Maricopa Community Colleges have presented a number of proposals to the state legislature, and are receiving a good reception, Chancellor Rufus Glasper told the Governing Board. Dr. Glasper, who recently appeared before the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, said thatin the past, community colleges have not fared well when it came to legislative appropriations.

The Chancellor said that this year, the state’s community colleges have proposed a bill that would distribute money to community colleges for capital expenditures related to workforce development in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas. Under that proposal, Maricopa would receive $11 million in capital funds. Another proposal would allow community colleges across the state to receive funds from the Arizona Commerce Authority to provide job training for new and existing businesses. He added that the District also is pushing a proposal for the state to restore its share of money used for Adult Basic Education. However, any thought of new money must be balanced against the state’s precarious financial position, Dr. Glasper advised. “We don’t know what is going to be happening with funding for community colleges.”